Grand Mesa

It's spring in Colorado. One minute it's raining and cloudy, and then, all of a sudden, the sun comes out, and it gets hot. The snowpack is beginning to stabilize, and avalanche activity is decreasing. You are most likely to trigger a dangerous avalanche in steep above treeline areas that face northwest, north, and northeast. Get into and out of the mountains early to avoid wet snow avalanches. If you stand on the snow surface and sink more than 4 or 5 inches into wet unconsolidated snow, it's a sign that you should stay away from steep slopes. Some avalanches may release naturally and wet avalanches can run a long way.